[b]a realizaton[/b]

      Jeremy stretched as he walked by the guard, in the opposite direction that he normally would at this hour. He was sore in places he hadn't known the human body could be sore. Growl . . . Gralgiranselhelrarvnir, he forced himself to use his full name, even if there was no way he could pronounce it. Gral had been gentle with him, but but it still had been his first time with another man, and as pleasurable as it had been, even with some of the pain that couldn't be avoided, his body was now telling him that he needed to let it rest before the next time - and there was going to be a next time, there was no doubt of that.

      He was on his way back to his room, for a shower. Gral had suggested they take it in his cabin, but Jeremy wanted to put in an appearance on the station, to avoid drawing to much suspicions. 

      "Mister Krommer," someone said behind him, when he was halfway to his destination.

      Jeremy spun. "Commander!" he said when he saw who it was. "Sorry, you startled me. I wasn't expecting to run into anyone at his hour."

      "I understand, I need to get an early start today, otherwise I'd be enjoying a few more hours of sleep. Aren't you heading in the wrong direction?"

      "Ah, no. We worked until late in the night, and I crashed in one of their empty cabins. I'm just going to grab a shower and a change of clothes before going back to work."

      The commander walked to him and placed his hands on Jeremy's shoulders. "Mister Krommer, I know I said that I wanted them off my station as soon as possible, but I didn't mean for you to work yourself to death. You need to take it easy . . .. Are you alright?"

      Jeremy's stomach dropped when the commander mentioned the ship leaving. "I'm sorry," he said, turning. "I think I'm going to be sick." He ran to his room, and leaned against the door as soon as it was closed behind him. 

      How could he have forgotten about that? In the euphoria of his day with Gral, it hadn't occurred to him at all that they would be leaving, once the generator was fixed. Gral couldn't stay with him on the station. Even if he wasn't taking into account his duties as captain, there was no way they could have a relationship here. So would he be leaving with them? 

      He tried to remember their conversation before they had become sexual, and he thought that the implication he would was there, but he didn't recall it being said, and he had to know. He couldn't deal with the uncertainty that he might be left behind after discovering love.

      He turned and almost opened the door to run back to the ship, but stopped himself. If he did, he would arouse suspicions far more than if he'd stayed on the ship. He closed his eyes and rested his head on the door. He brought up the image of the box and considered putting his fear in it. It had helped him remove the artificial anxiety, but this was real. Even if it could help remove his fear, did he want to banish it away. There had to be another way to deal with this.

      He forced himself to remember what he was to Gral and he to him. He was his Heart, the one his Gods had chosen for him and guided to, across the stars. He wouldn't abandon him. He's said that only when he was with his Heart was he truly alive.

      That certainty calmed him. He would have to talk with him when he went back to the ship, but he didn't have to rush there, and attract attention. He chuckled to himself. It wasn't like they could go anywhere while he was in the shower. They would have time to talk.

      * * * * *

      With his shower done, and fresh clothes, Jeremy headed to the cafeteria hall to get something to eat before heading back to the ship. He grabbed two bottles of liquid meal replacement, he didn't feel like sitting down, he could drink those on his way back. He almost collided with Omar on his way out.

      "Jeremy," Omar smiled, "I haven't seen you in a while."

      "Ah, yeah," Jeremy hesitated. "The pills you gave me are working, and I figured I wouldn't bother you until I needed more." Did his excuse sound as lame to Omar as it did to him?

      "Good, I'm glad to hear it. Why don't you sit down with me and have a real breakfast." He pointed to the bottles. "These things really aren't good for you." He took him by the arm and guided Jeremy back to the line. 

      Jeremy could protest, say that he needed to get back to work, but would that make Omar suspicious? He had time, he reminded himself. Gral wasn't going anywhere.

      "Are you treating yourself okay?" Omar asked, "I ran into Kathy and Patrick, and they mentioned that you haven't hung out with them much recently."

      "I've been spending most of my time working on the kelsirian ship. The commander wants them off the station sooner rather than later."

      "Still, you shouldn't sacrifice your social contacts, and they miss seeing you. How is it working with the aliens?" Omar asked, when Jeremy shrugged.

      "It's okay," he answered with a smile, and then cursed mentally, he wasn't suppose to be becoming friends with them. "I mean, it isn't like I'm getting to know them, but they are good workers."

      "If they are so good, why aren't they able to fix it themselves?"

      Jeremy looked at Omar from the corner of his eyes as he ate. Had his tone really been angry? Or had he imagined it? "They're technicians, think of them as your nurses. They can really help, but they couldn't perform an operation on their own."

      "And they really have only one person who can work on that generator? That doesn't sound really smart."

      Jeremy wanted to ask him what the problem was? But he was afraid that he already knew. He force his tone to be casual. "They're aliens, you can't expect them to think like us." He finished his plate. "I should get back to work. How about we meet up tonight? We can talk some more." He didn't wait for the response. He put his dishes in the cleaning bin, and headed back to the ship, forcing himself to walk there, not run.

      * * * * *

      He buzzed Gral's office.

      "Come," he said, and the door opened.

      "I think they've figured out something up," Jeremy said immediately, removing the smile from Gral's lips. He told him about his encounters.

      "What do you think they will do?" Gral asked.

      "I don't know, but considering the extent they went to make sure I'd never feel attracted to a man, I can't imagine it would be good. To be honest, I'm not sure how safe I'd be on the station if they become certain I'm doing more that fixing the generator."

      Gral leaned back in his seat. "You can move to the ship." He said evenly. 

      Jeremy wasn't sure how to take the statement, he couldn't read Gral's expression. "Do, you want me to?" he asked cautiously.

      Gral lowered his head. "Yes, I do." He looked at Jeremy. "I can't keep you safe when you're on the station. I know how your people feel about what we have, and I've been worrying about it each time you left the ship."

      "Then I'll move in with you."

      "Do you have much you need to bring?"

      Jeremy thought about it. "No, I've never really accumulated much. A few sentimental things, and my drawings. That's about it."

      Gral nodded. "Then, when you go to the station for your mid day meal, take your things when you come back. Once you're here, I'll be able to make sure they can't get to you.
    
[b]the first rescue[/b]

      Gral paced by the passageway access. "Where is he?" he grumbled.

      "He will be back," Thuruk said.

      "He has already been gone for over an hour. It can't be taking that long to pack his belongings. He said he didn't have much he wanted to bring with him."

      "I am certain he just got held up. There's nothing to worry about."

      Gral slammed the communicator by the side of the door.

      "Bridge here," the communicator said.

      "Toom, can you tell me where Jeremy is? He should be near his quarters."

      "Ahhh, yes sir." Was Toom hesitating to answer? Gral wondered. "I'm going to need a moment, to force myself in their system."

      "That's fine, just tell me where he is." Gral went back to his pacing.

      "Captain," Toom said no more than a minute later. "He isn't in his quarters."

      "What?"

      "I'm accessing the station's schematics. He's in their brig." He wasn't able to hide his surprise.

      The expletive that came out of Gral's mouth made Thuruk's ears fold back and grow warm. "Get five of Alpha's, suit up and arm yourselves. We're going to get him. I am not going to let them imprison my little warrior." He stormed by Thuruk to go get his own combat suit and weapon.

      "What caliber?"

      "Sidearm. As much as I want to bring this station down around their ears, I'm going to try and be reasonable." They went their separate way at the first intersection. 

      * * * * *

      When Gral came out of his quarters he was dressed in a mate black fur tight suit, and had the largest sidearm attached to his hip he owned. He could make very large holes in the station with it, if they pushed him.

      Six other Kelsirians were already in the access corridor when he arrived. They wore the same type of suits and had various weapons. One even had a rifle, but Gral didn't feel like getting him to change it. Unlike him they also wore helmets, with their visor on clear. He noted that each one of them was someone that Jeremy knew. They moved out of his way, and Gral found himself with only one person blocking his way.

      "Ambassador Querik, what are you doing here?"

      "I am here to stop you from making a mistake."

      "They are holding Jeremy prisoner." He said in a menacing growl. "I will not let that go unanswered."

      "I know. The anger you are radiating reached me in my quarters."

      "Then get out of my way."

      "No. Not until we have clarified some things."

      Gral's eyes narrowed, and he growled, but the ambassador didn't react to it.

      "I am in charge of this rescue," Querik said. "Alpha is my support and will do what I say and nothing else. Is that clear."

      "If one of them does anything that looks like it might threaten my little warrior, I will kill them. Is that clear?"

      Querik stared back at the captain for a moment and then nodded. "Then lets hope it doesn't get to that. I'd hate for my last day here to be marked by the start of a war."

      Gral nodded. "We are Hunters," he said softly.

      "We die so our people live," the others finished.

      Querik looked at them. "Lets try to avoid that, also." He turned, opened the door and strode into the station.

      * * * * *

      The station commander met them in the fourth intersection, with ten heavily armed guards. "What is the meaning of this ambassador?" the Commander asked.

      "You are holding one of the captain's crew prisoner. We are here to take him back."

      The commander frowned. "We don't have any kelsirian prisoners. Your intel's wrong."

      "The crew in question isn't kelsirian. I am referring to Jeremy Kromer."

      "Kromer isn't part of his crew. He's a station tech. If you attempt to kidnap him we're going to be forced to take you down."

      Querik eyed the commander, then the men behind him. "Do you happen to know who stands behind me, Commander O'Neil? They are six members of Alpha squad, and the captain of the hunter ship Viper's Bane. Alpha squad is an elite hunter team, anyone of them can take down your ten guards without even moving from the position he's in right now. And not hit any unintended targets." 

      The guards behind the commander tensed and pulled up their weapons. No sounds came from behind Querik, and it might seemed like they were relaxing, but he could sense the tension coiled inside each of them, just waiting for the order to be unleashed.

      "Before this situation escalate out of your control, I believe there are some facts you need to be made aware of. Jeremy Kromer is the captain's Heart. I won't bother trying to explain the details of what this means, you wouldn't understand it, but suffice to say that it makes him his mate, his husband, in your language."

      "That furball's a homo?" the commander exclaimed.

      "Yes, he is." Querik knew it had been meant as a slur, but he was the only one who knew the word and he didn't bother reacting to it. "And so is Jeremy."

      "Bullshit. Kromer's a strong worker. Not a homo. If he's done anything with that thing then he was forced and it's a good thing we took him away from you people."

      "You may deny it as loudly as you wish, send subliminal indoctrination through the station as long as you want, but it does not change the fact that Jeremy is Gral's lover."

      "There's no way he'd ever have agreed to that!"

      Querik suppressed a smile. The commander had be easy to manipulate. "Why don't we ask him?"

      The commander stared at him.

      "You said he would never agree to this, then why don't we ask him directly. Have him brought here so he can tell us himself what his choice is."

      "You're wasting your time," the commander stated.

      "Then it is ours to waste, and you have nothing to lose."

      The commander tried to stare Querik down, but he was the one who looked away. "Bring Kromer to my position." He said in a communicator.

      Less then five minutes later Jeremy arrived, escorted by two guards. They stopped when they stood behind the commander. Querik could sense that he was nervous, but he wasn't letting any of it show. He didn't offer any resistance, he just stood straight and went where directed.

      "Kromer," the commander said, "why don't you tell the furballs here that there's no way in hell you're going to go with them.

      "I want to go with them," Jeremy said without hesitation.

      "What?" the commander turned and reached to grab Jeremy.

      An arm materialized itself by Querik's head and pointed a large sidearm in the commander's direction.

      "If I were you, commander, I would be extremely careful about what you do next."

      The commander turned looked over his shoulder and blanched when he saw the weapon Gral was pointing at him.

      "Now," Querik said. "Jeremy as answered your question. He wishes to go with us. As per his wishes, we will be taking him. If you want to try and stop us, you are welcome to do so. I'm actually curious to find out if any of your scared guards will be able to let out one shot before they are dead." He extended a hand to Jeremy, who stepped by the commander and joined the Kelsirians.

      "This isn't over, ambassador. I'm going to be lodging a complaint."

      "That is your right, but you'll have to do it when a new ambassador arrives. I am leaving. After learning how you treat your citizens, I find that I can not tolerate staying here. Further more, I will recommend that the kelsirian government removes its support of earth's entry in the federation." He turned, walked through the Squad and headed for the ship's access.

      "Thuruk, you're Jeremy's shade," Gral said. "Milin, Houral, watch our back. Al'alut and Werin, I want you to cover each intersections we'll cross. We don't have far to go, but I don't trust them to let us go without a fight."

      "They won't fight us," Querik said. "We have cowed them thoroughly." He proved to be right, there was no opposition on their return to the ship.

      Gral hit the com as soon as the door was closed behind them "Cycle the engine, we are leaving, have the weapon's hot, we might take fire."

      "How," Jeremy said. "The generator's still down."

      "That'd be true," Thuruk said, "if this was a merchant ship, but this is a hunter ship. It wouldn't be very wise of us not to have a back up."

      "A backup? I don't understand, if you have a backup, why did you limp in?"

      "We were sent here to find out how advanced your antimatter research is." Gral said, as they continued moving. "We damaged our generator on purpose for the excuse it provided us."

      "Right," Jeremy said. He'd forgotten their previous conversation about it in the excitement. "Do you need me to tell you about the antimatter generator?" he asked, cautiously.

      "No, that's irrelevant now." Querik said. "The suppression of it's citizen's sexual preference will be what I will be discussing with the council. We have very strict criterias as to whom we support for entry in the federation. And what earth is doing goes against a major one."

      By the time Gral, Querik and Jeremy reached the bridge, the ship had already broken from the station.

[b]the backup[/b]

      "This makes no sense," Jeremy said, "Why would you put the backup generator here, of all places? You've got what? Some hangars and storage around here, and nothing else."

      Thuruk looked at him, smiling.

      "What?" Jeremy asked.

      "I'm waiting for you to realize you've answered your own question."

      Jeremy looked at him, no understanding.

      "You said it yourself, this makes no sense. This is someplace where no one would think to look for it."

      "How about scans? Even powered down, it's bound to show up."

      Thuruk shook his head. "This whole area is shielded. It's in the hull. Something pretty complex, from the subversion division. I don't get it, but it makes scanners see various containers of goods."

      Jeremy though on it. "You guys really aren't merchants." Gral had implied that much, but he hadn't pushed the issue.

      "We do trade, at times. Some stations only know us as traders. Being merchants can give us access to information we wouldn't have otherwise." Thuruk led Jeremy out of the room and sealed it behind them. "We are hunters. Our government sends us after criminals, or enemies. Most of the time, we are left to decide what we hunt ourselves. As merchants we listen to the whispers, seek out the scents that lead to those who plot against us, and take them down."

      Jeremy looked at him. "You sound like you know a lot about that stuff, for a tech."

      Thuruk laughed. "You'll find that most of us are more than just the title we wear. I am leader of one of the hunter squad. I know what I'm talking about, because, when I'm not working in engineering, it's my duty to go through the information we have gathered and find the parts that lead to our next hunt."

      "Should you be telling me those things?" Jeremy asked after a moment of silence.

      "You're one of the crew now. One of us. It's your right to know what we do. As Gral's Heart, you'll learn the workings of the ship, and in time, you'll lead us, like he does."

      Jeremy swallowed. "I guess nothing says 'welcome aboard' like putting pressure on the new guy."

      Thuruk put an arm on his shoulders. "Never doubt that you are up to the task. You are a warrior, in time, you will be one of the best."

      Jeremy looked at him askance, trying to figure out if his friend was just trying to make him feel better, or was serious.